The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-09-08

companies that are so taxed require an
amendment of the laws to that effect"
He then calls attention to official re-
ports collected by the State Auditor,
from which it is shown that there is no
uniformity of valuation Of real estate,
one county with another, throughout
the State, and that millions and millions
Of personal property In the shape Of
bonds, stocks and credits, of one kind
and another, are withheld from the as.
SCISSORS and thus escape entirely all tax
alton, and that in consequence the bur-
dens of real estate and other property
that is taxed are unjustly increased. He
recommends that appropriate legislation
be enacted to cure all these evils, and
that, among other things, the real estate
should be revalued, not to assess it
higher but to make it uniform and to
prevent the injustice he has pointed
out.
| He speaks farther on this same sub.
ject in his last annual message, as fol.
| lows:
"Ths last decennial appraisement of
real estate was had at a period of great
prosperity. It was time of general
high values. Since then there has been
a heavy decline. Farm property is
from twenty-five to fifty per cent.
cheaper to-day than it was then. The
consequence is that farming lands OF
the State, where they have not been
affected by the growth of cities or other
development, are now taxed on the
average more nearly at their full value
in money than any other class of prop.
erty."
But read the following concerning the
Governors special message from the
columns of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Co.
lumbas Times and Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Every other Democratic paper in the
State OF any prominence spoke out at
the time to the same effect:
"The message Of Governor Foraker TO the
General Assembly on the condition OF the
State finances may be set down % the most
commendable thing he has done since he en-
tered state politics In his message on finance
and taxation he has ignored party lines and
addressed himself to tho Legislature in the in.
terest Of the people. The message is q plain,
business.like statement of the points, and de-
| serves the attention Of all people. From
| figures obtained at the Office Of the Auditor of
State, the Governor ascertaiDs that the casual
deficiency OF the State will aggregate about
| 81, ,000, 900 on December 81, 1885, The Cover.
nor's theory appears to be that by compelling
the proper listing Of personal property and
making fair and uni form, ualudtiOn of really
| the State will have abundant revenue, even at
| lower rate Of taxation than we have now."-
Editorial in Cincinnati Enquirer of April 8,
1885.
| "EoRAKEBs sPECIAL-A DOCUMENT WITH NO
rNsouND MEANING.
''Let the Legislature Follow His Suggestions
and the Heavily Taxed People Will Rejoice
| and Say. We'll Done, Good and Faithful
Servsnts.'
"His excellency can rest assured that the
| Times will aid him al 1t can to make corpora.
tions millionsires, etc., pay their honest pro-
portion OF the taxes Of the State, instead Of
| having every poor man who owns little home
pay tile taxes of the State"-C Columbus Times
April z, 1886.
The Cereland Plain Dealer, April 8,
1886, said editorially
Estate FINANCES.
'The message of Governor Foraker to the
Legislature, calling attention to the financial
affairs OF the State, discloses financial condi.
tion that ought to have careful consideration
and prudent legislative action. state OF
| affairs has come about that requires prompt
and intelligent treatment to avert very serious
evils, and the members Of the Legislature
ought to give Governor Forsker's suggestions
very careful consideration. The rate
OF taxation might be increased, but the Cover.
nor thinks, and justly, that ought to be done
only as last resort. The general State levy 10
about as high now as the people want to stand
and there would DO very energetic protest II
it were increased. Instead Of that, Governor
Foraker recommends too eIpedients, either of
which or both together would produce the rev.
enue needed These ares
"First Indirect taxation upon certain sorts
OF business and upon corporations that do
business In the State under special privileges
"Second Increasing the tax duplicate by
having placed upon 1t taxable property that
has hitherto managed to evade taxation.
These suggestions WILL We think, meet gen.
er. The tendency Of legislation Of late has
been towards Indirect taxation. and the exper-
tment has been very successful In some States
where It has been tried. Companies and cor.
porations doing business in the State and pos
ought to pay tax to the State. As . matter
OF fact, foreign insurance. telegraph, and OK
press companies now pay tax In the State, and
there II, % the Governor well says, NO reasons
why others not now taxed, such q telephone,
transportation, car trust, car equipment,
sleeping and parlor car companies, should mot
also pay the State for the privileges and pro-
lection they get from II. This policy has been
pursued in some States until the greater part
OF the revenue needed BY the State d obtained
from this system Of indirect taxation, which d
burdens0me to nobody.
''On the other point the Governor ID sound
In his views. He calls attention to the fact
that the total property returned - taxable In
the State is 81 $40, ,079. .868, while II ought to
be, snd would be, il honestly returned, at least
three billion Of dollars. There ID not 9 particle
Of doubt that the State !. defrsuded year after
year OF at least one-half Of its lust dues in
taxes ; and this fraud IL practicsd BY the very
men who are more able 10 pay taxes and who
ought to pay them. The property that ought
TO pay tax II kept OF the duplicste, and the
burden falls al the more heavily ON the smaller
property owners who can not put their posses
sions into such shape that the assessor d nm.
able 70 find 1t: There Il monstrous injustice
here that ought TO have . remedy even though
ne question of the States necessities toere not
inuolced Unincorporated and private banks
thst pay no equitable tax upon their business,
valuable real estate that u rated far below IL
real value, stocks, bonds. securities, credits,
personal properties that ere concealed from
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